Pneumatic cleaner.



Patented May 3, 1910.

'NVENTOR @MTM/M 043 ATTORNEY AUGUSTUS LOTZ, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PNEUMATIG CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1910.

Application led February 13, 1906. Serial No. 300,864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS LoTz, of San Francisco, California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Cleaners, vwhereof the following is a specification. l

My invention relates to devices for cleaning surfaces by means of currents of air. Such currents are commonly produced either by deliveringsair under superatmospheric pressure to the surface to be cleaned, and taking it away under atmospheric pressure, the dirt going with it, in which case a compression apparatus only is required; or by delivering the air under atmospheric pressure and taking it away under less than atmospheric pressure, in which case a suction apparatus only is required; or by combining both these systems, delivering the air under super-atmospheric pressure and taking it away under less than atmospheric pressure, in which case both compression and suction apparatus is required.

My invention relates to the vmeans by which the air current howeverproduced, is caused to act upon the surface to be cleaned. Its main feature consists, in eneral terms, in a conduit or channel o appreciable length, one side of which is formed by the surface to be cleaned, the air being delivered to the channel at an inlet vand takentherefrom at an outlet an appreciable distance apart, whereby the air passes over an appreciable length of surface before leaving 1t, and the velocity due to its pressure is substantially maintained throughout its action on the surface, whereby I secure the greatest cleaning effect.

The invention also consists in the mechanism by which the above is carried into effect.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a device containing my invention in the form best adapted for operating on the surface 'to be cleaned under atmospheric pressure, the air and dust being taken away y suction. The drawings, and the subjoined description of them, -are merely illustrative and ex lanatory of the invention, and are not to e considered as limiting it. They show it as adapted for cleaning floors.

In the drawin s: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the evice.. Fig. 2 is a central cross section and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section.

In the drawing l represents the surface to be cleaned, 2 the head of the cleaner, 3 a tubular outlet -leading' from the head to a suitable connection with a vacuum pump.

7 are flexible rubber strips secured to the bottom of the head parallel with each other yand extending below saidhead thereby 'con-l stituting an open end channel 4, which connects with a central channel 5 leading to the tube 3. On either side of the rubber strip 7, I arrange brushes 8, which serve, when the tool is moved over the floor, to loosen the dust which is drawn into the passage or channel 4 and thence out through the tube 3 by the suction, the rubber strips constituting .lmpervious walls approximately in contact with the surface being cleaned. The air enters the ends of thechannel formed by the rubber strips and brushes as indicated by the arrows 6, thus passing over the surface to be cleaned and takin up the loose dirt and dust which passes 0% through the tube 3 and its connections to the pump.

I claim:

1. A pneumatic cleaner having a head with a central air exhaust outlet, -a pair of impervious elastic strips projecting from the bottom of said head adapted to make close contact with the surface to be cleaned and constitutin a shallow open-end channel communicatmg with said air exhaust.

2. A pneumatic cleaner having an elongated head provided with a central air outlet, a pair of impervious elastic strips ar- 4with .a central air exhaust outlet, rows of bristles on the bottomy thereof, and an impervious flexible dependino strip arranged between the rows of brist es.

ranged longitudinally on the bottom of said In testimony whereof I have hereto set my.

hand this 15th day of January 1906.

AUGUSTUS LOTZ.

Witnesses:

G. C. FITCH, D. B. RICHARDS. 

